Xavier forward Isaiah Philmore, a transfer from Towson who is becoming eligible this fall, has been suspended for three games by the NCAA because of a paperwork problem.

Philmore, a 6-8 junior from Bel Air, Md., is being penalized for failing to fill out a form before beginning his career at Towson in 2009-10. Xavier officials discovered the oversight when cross-checking all amateurism status after he transferred.

“It’s frustrating that three years after his initial enrollment, this penalty has to be served,” Xavier athletics director Mike Bobinski told The Cincinnati Enquirer. “But it wasn’t discovered until he got to Xavier, through the normal checking process.”

Xavier coach Chris Mack is counting on Philmore, who averaged 15.3 points and 7.0 rebounds as a sophomore at Towson, to help the Musketeers in the middle after the graduation of center Kenny Frease. He will miss games against Fairleigh Dickinson, Butler and Robert Morris.

At least there is resolution to Philmore’s case. Coach Chris Mack is still awaiting a ruling on Chris Cantino, a junior college transfer from Palm Beach State in Florida. Cantino has been cleared to practice with the Musketeers but not cleared to play.

Should Cantino not be cleared by the start of the season, that would leave coach Chris Mack with only seven scholarship players until Philmore returns.

“As the NCAA is sort of reviewing the situation – it’s a step-by-step process – it’s not finalized in terms of what he’ll ultimately be allowed to do. But he has been cleared to practice,” Mack told reporters last week. “He’s on scholarship. And that’s about all I know at this point.”